Children’s miniature football player cards, Montevideo, c.1928
Miniature children’s playing cards with photographs of football players on the reverse.
Mini-Naipes FUTBOL - Children’s football player cards, anonymous manufacturer, Montevideo, c.1928



Right: the cards stored inside a match box →
Above: Miniature children’s playing cards depicting photographs of football players on the reverse, all with shiny haircuts. Similar mini-packs were published showing popular heroes and celebrities and proverbs and maxims. Cards of this type are examples of playing cards used for educational purposes besides providing entertainment value to young people.
Educational or Instructional playing cards have been around since the 16th century. See also: Proverbial Cards, 1698 • Mechanical Instruments, c.1700 • Cartes Questions-Devinettes, c.1840 • Happy Families • Jaques' Illustrated Proverbs, c.1885 • Spanish Instructional Cards, 1888 • Children's Maxim Cards from Uruguay • Change for a Shilling, c.1930 • Indian Alphabetical Cards, c.1940 • Wild Flower Sevens card game, 1960 • Snip Snap, 1968.

By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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